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Pruning guide · Houseplant
Zebra plant: when and how to prune
Aphelandra squarrosa
Zebra plant is best pruned in October–November.
| Pruning months | October–November |
|---|---|
| Flowering | July–October |
Zebra plant: when to prune it?
After flowering, in October–November, when the last spikes have faded.
Zebra plant: how to prune it?
- Cut the flowering stems back to just above a good, healthy pair of leaves.
- A tall, bare plant can be cut back by about half: it will reshoot from the leaf axils.
- Use the removed tips as cuttings.
- Remove yellow or damaged leaves at the stem.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: October–November.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- A houseplant lives indoors, so wildlife hardly notices the pruning. Healthy clippings can go on the compost.
Caution: Without pruning it quickly becomes leggy and bare at the base; an old, bare plant is best replaced by a young cutting.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Zebra plant · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.